Spartech Corp. has announced record sales and earnings for the first quarter, which ended Feb. 1.

Bradley B. Buechler, Spartech president and chief executive officer, reported quarterly sales for the first three months of fiscal 1997 at $113.5 million, up 30 percent from the $87.5 million during the same quarter a year ago.

The company's first quarter net earnings were $5.5 million, or 20 cents for fully diluted shares, compared to $3.8 million, or 16 cents a share during the same period of 1996.

Spartech, headquartered in St. Louis, has two operations in Cape Girardeau -- Spartech Plastics at 2500 Spartech Drive and Spartech Compounding on Nash Road. Spartech is a leading manufacturer of engineered thermoplastic materials and polymeric compounds.